Knee-pad



(No Model.)

J. W. HAMILTON & J. F. SIEBENTHALL. KNEE PAD.

Patented Aug. 6, 1895.

. l: C 1 21 OPS.

JZzmesWHmm'Zwm g/1 mrmz ge l'igawwzima UNITE STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

JAMES WILLIAM HAMILTON AND JOHN FRANCIS SIEBENTHALL, OF

- HONEY GROVE, TEXAS.

KN E E-PAID.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 543,864, dated August 6, 1895.

Application filed October 9, 1894.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J AMES WILLIAM HAM- ILTON and JOHN FRANCIS SIEBENTHALL, citizens of the United States, residing at Honey Grove, in the county of Fannin and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Knee- Pad, of which the following is a specification.

Thisinvention relates toaknee-pad adapted for use by persons engaging in picking cotton, berries, 850.; and the object of theinvention is to provide a pad which will be simple and inexpensive in construction and which will at the same time afford the most perfect protection to the user by protecting his knee against contact with objects which would tend to bruise and injure it, and by preventing the dampness of the ground from being transmitted to the knee, which, as is well known, results in various diseases, such as rheumatism.

A further object is to make the device as little cumbersome as possible, so that it may be worn without tiring the user.

To these several ends the invention consists in the peculiar formation of the pad, whereby it is more effectively made of a single piece of flexible material combined with a plate of sheet metal, such as Zinc, for-lending stiffness and rigidity to the appliance, and for preventing the dampness of the ground from passing through the pad, such sheet of metal being combined with the other parts to form a peculiar structure, hereinafter described and claimed. In the accompanying drawings all of these features are illustrated in detail, and wherein- Figure 1 represents a perspective View looking down on the interior of the pad; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the pad; Fig. 3, a plan view of. the blank of which the same is formed; Fig. 4, a view of a'modified form of the invention, wherein the lining of the preferred form is dispensed with; Fig. 5, a view of a second modification showing how the zinc plate aforesaid may be arranged on the outside of the pad.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the pad is formed of an integral sheet of heavy leather, shaped in its blank form to compose a main portion having the central tongue 1 at one end and the two short tongues Serial No. 525,412- (No model.)

2 at each side thereof. The length of each of the tongues 2 should be equal to one-half the width of the tongue 1, while the width of the tongues 2 should be equal to the length of the tongue 1. In forming the blank thus shaped into the pad, the leather is'iirst folded on the dotted lines 3, so as to form the parallel sides a and bottom portion 1). The tongues 2 should next be folded on the lines 4, so that they will extend across the pad or at right angles to the sides a, and so that their extremities will touch each other, as may be seen by reference to the drawings, particularly Figs. 1 and 4-. The final fold is made by bending the tongue 1 up on the dotted line 5, so that the tongue will lie snugly against the outer sides of the now folded tongues 2. The parts are secured in these positions by means of the rivets b, which are preferably four in number, and which are located two at each side of the tongue 1.

Arranged directly upon the bottom portion 12 of the pad and completely covering the same is the zinc plate 0, and this plate is held in place by means of the rivets d, which are passed through it and through the bottom portion 1). Located directly upon the plate 0 is the hair packing e, which extends entirely over the same and which is held in place by the liningf. The lining f extends over the entire inner surface of the pad and is secured thereto by lines of stitching extending around its edge, as will be understood. The lining is also provided with a line of stitching extending around the border of the bottom portion b, which is provided to assist in holding down the lining and principally to retain the packing e in place. Riveted to the upper edges of the sides a and extending across from one to the other, are the securing-straps g, which are adapted to pass around the users leg and to secure the device in place.

By means of the zinc. plate a the shape of the pad is retained and moisture prevente from permeating the pad and thus being transmitted to the users leg. On the other hand, the hair packing 6 forms a cushion for the reception of the knee, and makes the use of the pad easy and comfortable.

The use of our invention will not require any further description, since this will be ob vious from the drawings. All that is necessary is to strap the appliance on the leg with the bottom portion 1) lying against the shinbone and with the tongues 1 and 2 lying against the legabove the knee. This will put the pad in position to receive the knee when the user kneels, as he is forced to do incessantly in the operation of picking cotton, berries, &c.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modification of our pad, in which the liningf is dispensed with, and in this event the packing e is held in place by a piece of felt or other cloth h, laid over the top of the packing and secured to the leather by lines of stitching, as will be obvious without further description. The liningfis preferably of leather, though it will be understood that this may and in practice will be variously changed to suit the conditions of the use and the fancies of the user. Thus all kinds of cloth may be used with equal facility, though leather is regarded as preferable, owing to its durability.

Vhile the zinc plate 0 is an important feature of our invention, it will be understood that its relative location may be varied without departing from the spirit of thein vention.

Fig. 5 shows how the zinc plate 0 may be arranged on the outer side of the pad, and

this is done by riveting the plate to the under side of the bottom Z) so that its rear edge will lie forward from the rear edge of the bottom. This makes it possible to bend the front edge of the plate cup so as to lie against and cover a portion of the central tongue 1 or the front of the pad, which structure serves, in addition to the function before de-' scribed, to protect the front corner of the pad and prevent it from losing its shape.

Having described the invention, we claim 1. The herein specified knee pad for the purposes described, comprising a blank of flexible material, having parallel slits extending inward a short distance from one end, the side portions being folded vertically on parallel lines, the end portions of the side. pieces being bent inward, and the middle portion between the slits being bent vertically and against the said inner bent portions of the side pieces, and firmly secured thereto, a cushion applied to the flat bottom portion of the device, a metal plate constructed to strengthen and brace the device and render the same moisture proof, and attaching straps for bracingly connecting the upper portions of the said side pieces, and serving to secure the pad upon the limb, substantially as set forth.

2. The herein shown and described knee 'pad for the purposes specified, comprising a leather blank having parallel slits extending inward a short distance from one end, the side portions being folded vertically on pan allel lines, the end portions of the side pieces being bent inward and touching at their inner edges, and the middle portion between the slits being bent vertically and against the said inner bent portions of the side pieces and firmly secured thereto, a sheet metal plate applied to the inner side of the fiat portion of the device and surmounted by a cushion, and attaching straps for bracingly connecting the upperportions of the said side pieces and serving to secure the pad upon the limb, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto al'lixed oursignatures in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES \VILLIAM I-IAMIL'ION.

JOlIN FRANCIS SIEBENTIIALL. Witnesses:

J. B. STEPHENS,

J. H. LYNN. 

